John Uhrie
- BS Geological Engineering 1991
- PhD Metallurgical Engineering 1996
John Uhrie holds a BS in geological engineering and a PhD in metallurgical engineering
from Michigan Tech. He also earned an MS in geology from the University of Wyoming.
After earning his PhD, he joined Phelps Dodge Mining Company (now Freeport McMoRan) in the newly formed Process Technology Center. In that industrial R&D role, he developed new bio heap and tank leaching technologies. Many of these flow sheets are now standard practice throughout the corporation. He has since operated copper mining facilities internationally (Peru) and domestically in Arizona, and is currently in the corporate role of Hydrometallurgical Manager of Strategic Planning working on new property development principally in central Africa.
A registered professional engineer, he is an expert in stockpile leaching and hydrometallurgical processing of copper ores. He regularly presents his work at international conferences and is the principal holder of two patents in the field of leaching biotechnology.
Uhrie has made it a point to return to Michigan Tech frequently to speak with undergraduates about careers in the mining industry and has hired several Tech grads. While at Tech, Uhrie sang tenor with the Michigan Tech Jazz singers and with the Chamber Chorus, which became the Concert Choir. He and his wife, Theo (also a 1991 Michigan Tech graduate) have four children and live in Scottsdale, Arizona.
In 2002, Uhrie was presented with the Outstanding Young Alumni Award.
Excerpted from the 2002 Alumni Reunion Awards Program
Updated March 2009
After earning his PhD, he joined Phelps Dodge Mining Company (now Freeport McMoRan) in the newly formed Process Technology Center. In that industrial R&D role, he developed new bio heap and tank leaching technologies. Many of these flow sheets are now standard practice throughout the corporation. He has since operated copper mining facilities internationally (Peru) and domestically in Arizona, and is currently in the corporate role of Hydrometallurgical Manager of Strategic Planning working on new property development principally in central Africa.
A registered professional engineer, he is an expert in stockpile leaching and hydrometallurgical processing of copper ores. He regularly presents his work at international conferences and is the principal holder of two patents in the field of leaching biotechnology.
Uhrie has made it a point to return to Michigan Tech frequently to speak with undergraduates about careers in the mining industry and has hired several Tech grads. While at Tech, Uhrie sang tenor with the Michigan Tech Jazz singers and with the Chamber Chorus, which became the Concert Choir. He and his wife, Theo (also a 1991 Michigan Tech graduate) have four children and live in Scottsdale, Arizona.
In 2002, Uhrie was presented with the Outstanding Young Alumni Award.
Excerpted from the 2002 Alumni Reunion Awards Program
Updated March 2009